Can opener



Jan. 15, 1957 P. C. WOOLFOLK CAN OPENER Filed Aug. 13, 1953 IN VEN TOR. 2s Pearl 0. Woolfolk /4% r 777% FIG.7..

AT TORNE YS United States Patent CAN OPENER Pearl' C;Woolfolk, Camden, N. J. Application August 13, 1953, Serial No. 373,949 13" Claims. Ci. nit-'52 I This invention relates to can openers of the type used for removing a sealing strip extending about a can of the vacuum sealed type. v V

Openers which are usually employed for opening such cans consist of a key having a shank provided adjacent one end with a slot or eye in which a free end of a sealing strip is fitted, the other end of the shank carrying a cross head or the like by means of which the key is turned in order to wrap the strip about the shank and progressively tear the strip loose from the can and its cover until the strip is entirely removed and the cover released for removal from the can.

Such can openers are not entirely satisfactory as the strip has a tendency to wind unevenly about the shank of the key instead of forming an even compact coil and in addition it is di-fiicult to remove the coiled strip from the key after it has been entirely torn loose from the can and the cover. Therefore, the key is usually thrown away with the strip wrapped about it, thus avoiding the trouble of unwrapping the strip from the key and also eliminating likelihood of the strip cutting a persons fingers while unwrapping it from the key.

Therefore, one "object of the invention is to provide a can opener including a key adapted for detachable engagement with an end of a can-sealing strip and rotatably mounted through the shank of a yoke which guides wrapping movement of the strip about the key into a tight coil and prevents portions of the strip from slipping transversely off of the coil as it is torn loose from the can and wrapped about the key.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener of such construction that a sealing strip may be easily and accurately wrapped in a coil about a key but allow the strip to be readily removed from the key in its coiled condition and thus eliminate unwinding of the strip from the key in order to remove it.

Another object of the invention is to provide a can opener of this type wherein a portion of the key is slidable longitudinally as well as being rotatable relative to the yoke, the said key being formed with a strip securing slot which is open at its front end so that a coiled strip may be shifted along the key and otf at the front end thereof when removing the coiled strip from about the key.

Another object of the invention is to so mount the key that while its longitudinal movement will normally be limited it may be entirely removed when repairs or a thorough cleaning are necessary.

With these and other objects in view, the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a View in elevation showing the implement applied to a sealing strip of a can;

Fig. 2 is a view looking at "the front end of the implement;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the implement partially in Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the key in a retracted position;

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Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of a modified form of implement;

Fig. 6' is a view showing the modified form of implement partially in elevation and partially in section;

Fig. 7 is a view looking at the front end of the implement shown in Fig. 5.

This improved can opener is used for removing the sealing strip 1 which extends circumferentially about a can 2 and holds the cover 3 in place. Such a can is of a conventional construction and is used for storing various materials in a vacuum sealed container.

The sleeve or shank 4 consists of a metal tube formed with a bore 5 which extends its full length and is open at both ends. A cross head 6 extends across the front end of the sleeve or tube 4 and at its ends this cross head carries arms 7 which are of such length that when the device is applied to a can the arms will extend across the sealing strip 1. A key 8 which is formed of stilt metal extends through the bore of the sleeve 4 and is of such length that it may protrude from front and rear ends of the bore. Within the sleeve a portion 9 of the key is of reduced thickness thus providing the key with circumferentially extending abutment shoulders 10 and 11, at front and rear ends of the reduced portion 9.

A set screw 12 is screwed into a threaded opening 13 formed through a side portion of the sleeve and is of such length that it may extend into the bore of the sleeve and constitute a stop for engaging the shoulders 19 and 11 and thus limiting sliding movement of the key when moved from the extended position for use shown in Fig. 3 t0 the retracted position shown in Fig. 4.

The fact that the reduced portion 9 of the key is circular in cross section allows the key to be turned in the sleeve as well as slid longitudinally through the sleeve when the sleeve is grasped by the head or handle 14 which has been shown substantially triangular and is formed by bending the metal rod from which the key is formed so that it extends diagonally from the key as shown at 15 and then transversely towards the other side of the key as shown at 16 and then forwardly at an inward incline toward the key as shown at 17. It will be understood that the key may be provided with turning heads or handles of other specific formations, if so desired.

The front end portion 8' of the key is slit longitudinally from its front end to form a longitudinally extending slit or slot 18 and as this slot is open at its front end the free end portion 19 of the sealing strip 1 may be fitted into this slot when the can opener is applied to the can.

After the free end of the sealing strip has been engaged in the slot the key is grasped by its handle 14 and turned. Since the arms 7 of the cross head or yoke -6 bear against the can 2 and the cover 3 above and below the sealing strip, the sleeve will be prevented from turning with the key and as the key is turned the strip will be torn loose and wrapped about the forward portion of the key and thus form the strip into a coil 20. After the strip has been entirely torn loose from the can and coiled about the forward portion of the key, it is merely necessary to grasp the sleeve and exert rearward pull upon the key. This will slide the 'key .rearwardly through the bore of the sleeve until the innerend of the screw 12 engages the abutment shoulder 10 and limits rearward movement of the key beyond the retracted position shown in Fig. 4. As the -key is drawn rear-wardly, the-coiled strip engages portions of the cross head about the rearwardly moving key 'and as rearward movement of the key towards the retracted position is-continued, the coiled strip will :move oifof the front end of the key and thus be entirelydetached from the key. The coiled strip may then be discarded and the-can opener .put away'unti it .is again needed.

It will thus be seen that the coiled strip does not remain upon the key and a person does not have to uncoil it from the key in order to remove it as is the case with can openers of this type wherein the free end of the sealing strip is passed through a slot or slit formedin the key and closed at both ends.

In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 there has been illustrated a modified construction. In this embodiment of the invention the key 21 passes through a block or cross head 22 from which extend arms 23. These arms are bent laterally as shown at 24 and then forwardly as shown at 25 to provide portions which correspond to the arms 7 of the cross head 6. Pins or equivalent members 26 and 27 are carried by the key and by engagement with the front and rear surfaces of the cross head 22 they prevent sliding movement of the key but at the same time allow the key to be freely turned in the bore of the cross head 22 through which it passes. The rear end of the key 21 is formed with a handle or turning head 28 corresponding to the handle 14 and the portion of the key in front of the cross head 22 is formed with a slot or slit 29 which leads from the front end of the key and is, therefore, open at its front end. This slot corresponds to the slot 18 and when this form of can opener is in use, the free end of the sealing strip is passed through the slot 29 and the key then turned so that the strip will be torn loose and wrapped about the key in a tight coil. In order to remove the coiled strip from the front end portion of the key 21 there has been provided a stem 30 which extends longitudinally of the key and is disposed within the slot 29. A button 31 is mounted through the stem 30 close to the rear end thereof and when the coiled strip is to be removed it is merely necessary to grasp the button between the thumb and finger and slide the stem 30 forward- 1y. As the stem is slid forwardly its front end engages the portion of the strip which passes through the slot and pressure'will be exerted to force the coiled strip forwardly and off of the front end of the key. Since the button is of such dimensions that it may move through spaces between sides of the key and the arms 23, it will not interfere with turning movement of the key.

Abutment members 32 which are carried by the key 21 at opposite sides of the slot project from the key in position for engagement by the heads of the button 31 and serve to limit forward movement of the stem 30 beyond the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 6.

Therefore, the stem cannot be moved forwardly out of engagement with the key and be lost.

I claim:

1. An implement for removing a sealing strip from about a can comprising a sleeve having an axially extending bore, a yoke at the front end of said sleeve extending transversely thereof and having forwardly extending arms spaced from opposite sides of the sleeve, a key passing through the bore of said sleeve and being slidable longitudinally through the bore from a retracted position to a forwardly extended position between the arms and being also rotatable in the bore, said key being provided with a slot leading from its front end to receive an end of a sealing strip which is wound about the key between the arms of the yoke when the key is turned while in its extended position, a turning member at the rear end of said key, a portion of the key within said sleeve being of reduced diameter and having shoulders at its front and rear ends, and a pin screwed into a threaded side opening in the sleeve with its inner end extending into the reduced portion of the key between said shoulders and thereby limiting sliding movement of the key.

2. An implement for removing a sealing strip from about a can comprising a sleeve having an axially extending bore, a yoke at the front end of said sleeve extending transversely thereof and having forwardly extending arms spaced from opposite sides of the sleeve, a key passing through the bore of said sleeve and being slidable longitudinally through the bore from a retracted position to a forwardly extended position between the arms and being also rotatable in the bore, said key being provided with a slot leading from its front end to receive an end of a sealing strip which is wound about the key between the arms of the yoke when the key is turned while in its extended position, and means for limiting sliding movement of said key longitudinally through said sleeve. 7

3. An implement for removing a sealing strip from about a can comprising a sleeve having an axially extending bore, a yoke at the front end of said sleeve extending transversely thereof and having forwardly extending arms spaced from opposite sides of the sleeve, a key passing through the bore of said sleeve and being slidable longitudinally through the bore from a retracted position to a forwardly extended position between the arms and being also rotatable in the bore, said key being provided with a slot leading from its front end to receive an end of a sealing strip which is wound about the key between the arms of the yoke when the key is turned while in its extended position, a portion of said key within the sleeve being of reduced diameter and having abutments at opposite ends, and a pin carried by said sleeve and extending into the sleeve with its inner end disposed between the abu-tments and engageable thereby to limit sliding of the key through the sleeve.

4. An implement for removing a sealing strip from about a can comprising a sleeve having arms extending from its front end in transversely spaced relation to each other, said sleeve having a longitudinally extending axially disposed bore, a key rotatably mounted in said bore and slidable longitudinally therein from a retracted position to an extended position in which it projects forwardly from the bore between said arms in transversely spaced relation thereto, there being a slit extending longitudinally of the key from the front end thereof, and said key for a portion of its length projecting rearwardly from said sleeve and having its rear end portion bent into a turning member having portions projecting from opposite sides of the key.

5. An implement for removing a sealing strip from about a can comprising a sleeve having arms extending from its front end in transversely spaced relation to each other, said sleeve having a longitudinally extending axially disposed bore, and a key rotatably mounted in said bore and slidable longitudinally therein from a retracted position to an extended position in which it projects forwardly from the sleeve, there being a slit in the key leading from the front end thereof.

6. An implement for removing a sealing strip from about a can comprising a body having a bore therethrough, means connected with said body providing a pair of forwardly extending arms of equal length spaced from each other transversely of the axis of said bore and disposed at opposite sides of said axis, an elongate key extending through the bore with front and rear end portions projecting forwardly and rearwardly from the body, said key being rotatable in the bore and being provided with a strip-receiving slot opening through its front end, and means for shifting a strip coiled about the key forwardly and ofi of the key, said arms being parallel and terminating in straight forwardly extending ends to facilitate axial movement of the coiled strip from between the same.

7. An implement for removing a sealing strip-from about a can comprising a sleeve having a longitudinally extending bore, a yoke at the front end of said sleeve having forwardly extending arms spaced from each other transversely of the sleeve and disposed at opposite sides of the sleeve, a key extending longitudinally through the bore with front and rear end portions projecting from the sleeve, said key being rotatable in the sleeve and being provided with a strip-receiving slot leading from its front end, and a pin slidable longitudinally in the slotted front end portion of said key and when slid forwardly serving to engage a strip coiled about the key and dislodge the coiled strip from the key.

8. An implement for removing a sealing strip from about a can comprising a sleeve having a longitudinally extending bore, a yoke at the front end of said sleeve having forwardly extending arms spaced from each other transversely of the sleeve and disposed at opposite sides of the sleeve, a key extending longitudinally through the bore with front and rear end portions projecting from the sleeve, said key being rotatable in the sleeve and being provided with a strip-receiving slot leading from its front end, a pin slidable longitudinally of the slotted front end portion of said key and when slid forwardly serving to dislodge a coiled strip from the key, and a finger engaging button carried by said pin and constituting an actuating member for the key.

9. An implement for removing a sealing tear strip from a can, comprising an elongate key member having in one end portion a longitudinally extending tear strip receiving slot which opens through the adjacent end, a cross head having a bore therethrough approximately midway between opposite ends thereof through which the said end portion of the key member extends and in which it is adapted to turn, a pair of elongate arms in spaced parallel relation on opposite sides of and parallel with said slotted end portion, said arms and cross head being of the same width and which width is materially greater than the major transverse thickness of the key member, the arms having longitudinal edges adapted to bear against a side of a can, the key member lying in a plane passing centrally between the longitudinal edges of the arms whereby the said slotted end portion of the member is supported by the arms in spaced relation with the said side of a can upon which the arms bear when the implement is in use, and means for eflecting the shifting of a strip rolled about said slotted end portion longitudinally and off or said end portion.

10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein the last means comprises a sleeve joined at one end to the cross head and having the key member ex-tending therethrough and adapted to have both rotary and rectilinear movement therein, and cooperating parts between the sieeve and key member for limiting the rectilinear movelying in the portion of reduced diameter in position to engage with said shoulders upon selective rectilinear movement of the key member in the sleeve.

i2. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said last means comprises a stem of materially less length than and lying within said slot, and means for facilitating the rectilinear movement of the stem from a position in the inner end of the slot toward the open end of the latter.

13. The invention according to claim 12, wherein the said means for facilitating the rectilinear movement of the stem comprises a button attached to the stem and slidable on thekey member and means on the key member in the path of movement of the button toward the slotted end of the key member for engagement by the button to limit the forward movement of the button and stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,649,990 Lyle Aug. 25, 1953 2,660,331 Inman Nov. 24, 1953 2,680,537 Dzialdowski June 8, 1954 

